During the port visit, Farragut Sailors spent time with
French dignitaries and the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Mess
"Ganteaume", and provided shipboard tours to various supporting
organizations in France.

Quotes:

"I enjoyed learning more about the French culture
through its people and historic sights. I hope to come back again!" -
Quartermaster 2nd Class Alex Hitchens

"It was enjoyable visiting and experiencing the French
culture after working with the French navy in the 5th Fleet area of
operation." - Lt. Danny Williams, USS Farragut (DDG 99), electronic
materials officer

Quick Facts:

Cmdr. Cory R. Applebee, Farragut's commanding officer, Cmdr.
Megan Thomas, Farragut's executive officer, and several other Farragut officers
attended a luncheon at the residence of the Commandant la Marine a Marseille,
Capt. Frederic Paillat. Monique Quesada, Consul General in Marseille and other
French dignitaries were also in attendance.

Farragut previously operated with the French nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of
operation. Farragut's crew once again enjoyed the opportunity to interact with
the people of France; this time in the beautiful city of Marseille.

Farragut Sailors participated in various Morale, Welfare and
Recreation (MWR) tours of Marseilles and Avignon. Several Farragut Sailors were
hosted by the French NCO Mess "Ganteaume" for a luncheon and a tour
of Marseille.

Farragut, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is conducting naval
operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national
security interests in Europe and Africa.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the
full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied,
joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests
and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Exercise KM 15-3 is a four-month international exercise
allowing participants from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast
Guard (USCG) to work with host nation participants from various countries in
the Pacific Island Nations of Oceania.

The first portion of the exercise was in Tahiti, followed by
a leg in Fiji, where Marines conducted theater security cooperation (TSC)
activities with host nation partners.

After Tarawa, the Lewis and Clark, which is also part of
Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron (MPSRON) 2, will carry her personnel and
cargo to Vanuatu for more TSC events, then finish off the exercise in Timor
Leste in November. The Lewis and Clark is scheduled to return to its homeport
in early December.

While training in Tarawa, the Marines will conduct
military-to-law enforcement activities with local police. Members of the Navy
and Coast Guard will participate in Oceanic Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI)
operations, as they did in Fiji, in support of maritime law enforcement operations
along with partners from the Police Maritime Unit Tarawa.

"While the Marines are training on the island with the
host nation military or law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard has
taken this opportunity to use USNS Lewis and Clark, which is the platform for
KOA MOANA 15-3, to conduct OMSI patrols with the nations these TSCs have been
scheduled," said Navy Capt. Paul D. Hugill, commodore, MPSRON-2.

OMSI is a Secretary of Defense program aimed to diminish
transnational illegal activity on the high seas in the Pacific Island Nations
of Oceania's exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and enhance regional security and
interoperability with partner nations.

The Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling the waters
around the numerous islands associated with the U.S. throughout the region.
Each of these islands has territorial waters stretching out to 12 miles from
shore. Beyond that, stretching out 200 nautical miles are EEZs, an area defined
by international law that allows each nation exclusive rights to the
exploration and use of marine resources.

During the OMSI portion of KM 15-3, law enforcement agents
from the Police Maritime Unit Tarawa, and Navy and Coast Guard personnel, will
ride the Lewis and Clark and intercept and board commercial fishing vessels
operating inside the Kiribati EEZ. The combined team will be looking for
potential violations.

According to Taraa Teekea, vessel monitor system officer for
Police Maritime Unit Tarawa, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has a
significant negative effect on Kiribati's economy.

Outside of KOA MOANA, the Police Maritime Unit Tarawa
conducts their own operations about six to eight times a year. Their missions
are typically 10 days at-sea, with boarding an average of 30 suspected fishing
boats during each operation.

"We are looking for those who are conducting illegal
fishing," said Teekea. "Some of the common violations are invalid
fishing license, no license to transit through our EEZ, over-fishing certain
types of fish, and vessels with no [EEZ] entry and exit reports."

The OMSI memorandum of understanding between the Department
of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration helps to deter and prevent various threats to maritime security
and transnational crime, encourage mutually beneficial partnerships with
Pacific Island Nations, promote interoperability, enhance maritime domain
awareness and improve economic stability throughout Oceania.

According to USCG Lt. Lisa M. Hatland, OMSI liaison, U.S.
Coast Guard District 14 out of Honolulu and on board the Lewis and Clark for KM
15-3, since the Coast Guard doesn't have all the assets it requires in order to
patrol this region as often as they would like or to enact all the bilateral
ship rider's agreements that they have with partner nations, the [memorandum of
understanding] (MOU) with the Navy allows them to use naval vessels.

"Through OMSI, the Coast Guard exacts an MOU with the
DoD in order to supplement Coast Guard cutter deployments with naval assets
that are transiting across Oceania," the lieutenant added. "The MOU
allows us to put Coast Guard boarding teams on board DoD ships to conduct Coast
Guard missions, and it also permits us to embark foreign maritime law
enforcement agents so they can enforce laws in their own sovereign
waters."

Initiatives like OMSI help the U.S. to project a maritime
law enforcement presence beyond what the U.S. Coast Guard can do alone.

KOA MOANA also serves as a test for the Lewis and Clark on
how well cargo and ammunition ship platforms will perform in this type of
mission. The exercise is the first time a dry cargo and ammunition ship is
being used for a Coast Guard mission.

"The Lewis and Clark is performing well. During KOA
MOANA, we're doing everything that a [US combatant ship] can do with regards to
command and control," said Hugill. "The reasons the Lewis and Clark
is a good platform are the abundance of space, the capabilities of the deck
crew and the ability to carry out around the clock operations."

Commander, Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 2,
currently embarked aboard USNS Lewis and Clark and operating in the Southern
Eastern Pacific, maintains tactical control of the 10 ships that are forward
deployed to Diego Garcia and carrying afloat prepositioned U.S. military cargo
for the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. The squadron's
mission is to enable the force from the sea by providing swift and effective
transportation of vital equipment and supplies for designated operations.

MSC operates approximately 115 non-combatant,
civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized
missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at-sea around the world and
move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition
partners.

Exercise KOA MOANA 15-3 is a Marine Forces Pacific-sponsored
exercise designed to enhance senior military leader engagements between allied
and partner nations with a collective interest in military-to-military
relations, and to discuss key aspects of military operations, capability
development and interoperability.

10/27/2015 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- An
Alaska Reservist was presented with a commendation medal for her work
while supporting earthquake relief efforts in Nepal during a ceremony in
the Courtyard of Heroes at the Pacific Air Force Headquarters Oct. 16.

"I deployed as the Joint Air Component Coordination Element Public
Affairs officer in early May," said Maj. Ashley Conner, 477th Fighter
Public Affairs officer. "The JACCE staged out of Thailand, but a small
group of us went forward to Nepal with the 36th Contingency Response
Group."

Once arriving in Nepal the CRG assisted the Nepalese accelerate airfield
operations to increase the capacity to bring in aid via airlift, and
ultimately distribute aid faster to those affected by the earthquake.
Conner and Staff Sgt. Melissa White made up the Air Force Public Affairs
team that went to work documenting the relief efforts, facilitating
interviews and building relationships with partner nations.

Then on May 12 a second 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit just more than two
weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the nation.

"I had never felt an earthquake that strong before. In the distance you
could see plumes of dust rising in the air as buildings began to
collapse," she said.

The JTF had established a flightline aid station to receive injured
Nepalese citizens that were transported to the airport from remote
villages on U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys and UH-1Y Huey helicopters.

"When I arrived I saw children being treated for head injuries and other
children being consoled while their parents received care. As a mom of
two little girls, it was one of the hardest things to see," said Conner.
"There were at least seven military photographers already documenting
the activities, so I put down my camera and asked where they needed
help."

The medical team lead sent Conner to the litter carry line to assist carrying patients from the aircraft to the medical tent.

"The first woman we transported was an elderly woman who had lost her
leg in the earthquake. She was turned toward me on the cot and was
chanting. At one point she reached up to touch my face. I couldn't
think of anything to say besides 'You are going to be okay'," said
Conner.

"My grandmother saw these photos and said 'if I had been in that woman's
situation, seeing your face would have been comforting.' That sentiment
really hit home for me. Women, Peace and Security places importance on
the need for women in relief and recovery operations to address the
specific needs of women and children. My role and involvement that night
was very small and there were many others who had a much greater
impact, but I hope in some small way that my interaction -- whether
through the women I helped that night or just my daily presence at the
airport -- that I was able to have a positive impact on others during
this operation."

In 2011 President Obama signed an Executive Order instituting a National
Action plan on Women Peace and Security which recognizes that that
promoting women's participation in conflict prevention, management, and
resolution, as well as in post conflict relief and recovery, advances
peace, national security, economic and social development, and
international cooperation.

"The Air Force and the Department of Defense see the intrinsic value of
women's roles in supporting areas affected by natural disasters," said
Col. David Piffarerio, 477th Fighter Group commander. "Maj. Conner is a
consummate professional and represented the U.S. military well in her
support to the relief efforts in Nepal."

WASHINGTON, October 27, 2015 — The Air Force announced today
the contract award of engineering and manufacturing development and early
production for the Long Range Strike Bomber, or LRS-B, to Northrop Grumman
Corp.

"Over the past century, no nation has used air power to
accomplish its global reach -- to compress time and space -- like the United
States," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said during a Pentagon briefing
announcing the contract. "Today, it's vital to innovate and reinvest in
the people, strategies and technologies that will allow America's military to
be dominant in the second aerospace century. I’ve made such innovation a
hallmark of my commitment to the future of America’s military.

"Building this bomber is a strategic investment in the
next 50 years, and represents our aggressive commitment to a strong and
balanced force," Carter continued. "It demonstrates our commitment to
our allies and our determination to potential adversaries, making it crystal
clear that the United States will continue to retain the ability to project
power throughout the globe long into the future."

Critical to National Defense

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the LRS-B is
critical to national defense and is a top priority for the Air Force. “We face
a complex security environment,” she said. “It’s imperative our Air Force
invests in the right people, technology, capability, and training to defend the
nation and its interests – at an affordable cost.”

The future threat will evolve through the introduction of
advanced air defense systems and development of more capable surface to air
missile systems. The LRS-B is designed to replace the Air Force’s aging fleets
of bombers – ranging in age from 50+ years for the B-52 to 17+ years for the
B-2 – with a long range, highly survivable bomber capable of penetrating and
operating in tomorrow’s anti-access, area denial environment. The LRS-B
provides the strategic agility to launch from the United States and strike any
target, any time around the globe.

“The LRS-B will provide our nation tremendous flexibility as
a dual-capable bomber and the strategic agility to respond and adapt faster
than our potential adversaries,” said Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of
the Air Force. “We have committed to the American people to provide security in
the skies, balanced by our responsibility to affordably use taxpayer dollars in
doing so. This program delivers both while ensuring we are poised to face
emerging threats in an uncertain future.”

The Long Range Strike Bomber contract is composed of two
parts. The contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development, or EMD,
phase is a cost-reimbursable type contract with cost and performance
incentives. The incentives minimize the contractor’s profit if they do not
control cost and schedule appropriately. The independent estimate for the EMD
phase is $21.4 billion in 2010 dollars.

The second part of the contract is composed of options for
the first 5 production lots, comprising 21 aircraft out of the total fleet of
100. They are fixed price options with incentives for cost.Based on approved requirements, the Average
Procurement Unit Cost (APUC) per aircraft is required to be equal to or less
than $550 million per aircraft in 2010 dollars when procuring 100 LRS-B
aircraft. The APUC from the independent estimate supporting today’s award is
$511 million per aircraft, again in 2010 dollars.

Based on current LRS-B independent cost estimates, the Air
Force projects the APUC for the program will be approximately a third of the
previous B-2 stealth aircraft.

‘A Reasonable and Achievable Estimate’

“We believe this is a reasonable and achievable estimate. If
we remain disciplined and keep program requirements stable, we should beat this
estimate,” said Dr. William A. LaPlante, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
for Acquisition.

The Air Force program office conducted design efforts with
industry over the last three years to ensure requirements for the aircraft were
stable and allowed for the use of mature systems and existing technology while
still providing desired capability.

With that said, agile acquisition processes have been built
into the LRS-B development and production efforts to ensure the Air Force
delivers system capabilities for the best value.The program also effectively incentivizes
industry to achieve cost, schedule and performance goals.

The LRS-B is designed to have an open architecture allowing
integration of new technology and timely response to future threats across the
full range of military operations. This open architecture also provides the
opportunity to retain competition across the life cycle of the program.

“The program acquisition strategy has carefully integrated
lessons learned from previous programs and considered all elements of life
cycle costs in its design for affordability,” Dr. LaPlante added. “We are
primed to deliver this capability in the most affordable, efficient way
possible.”

Basing decisions and future program milestones for the
aircraft will take place over the next several years.